CATCHALL ⬦ 欲买桂花同载酒

[lapidation]

WHO: Zhongli and anyone!
WHAT: my catchall...
WHEN: forever
WHERE: this island imagine if he goes to sea and drowns
WARNINGS: will add when anything comes up; ALCOHOL
ETC: feel free to plot with me! my bingo is here and you can reach me via discord (hei#2323) or plurk (aftertaste).

Comments

[sluice]

[ Stop calling him a loudmouth, wtf. Anyways, time to be noisy with this anecdote. ]

... I wasn't nearly so outgoing back then. See, I was afraid of getting hurt, so I'd stay inside while my siblings ventured outdoors. One day, I decided I'd had enough, and struck out from home for an errand. It wasn't a long trip. No more than a mile and a half away, at most.

As I'd sought to surprise my family, I told no one I'd left. But I spent far too long wandering about the village instead. It'd grown dark and begun to snow, so I couldn't tell where I was going... nor where I was headed. I kept going, and lost my way. I remember thinking that I should have brought a compass, since I couldn't consult the stars.

Hours passed before I saw a fox pawing at the ice. I realized I was standing on the river that ran from outskirts of town to my home. At that time of the year, it was completely frozen. If I followed it, I'd be able to return home.

So I walked across it, and found my way back. After that, I was laid up in bed for a week. But I wasn't nearly so fearful, from that point on. Because I promised myself... I'd never be caught unprepared again.

[ Here, he pauses, in case Zhongli is inclined to offer his input in these trying, trying times. The pile of fish Childe's caught while rambling on and on is steadily forming beside him. ]

[lapidation]

[ Childe is a loudmouth... The guy just walks into rooms and his voice is loud? It cuts through conversations and makes them stop? ]

I see... [ He wrangles in one fish which is sizable, a bit of a chubby one. ] Your troublemaker streak started at that point.

[ Says something rude without the intention of it being rude. That's just how he sees it. ]

[sluice]

Hey! I resent that accusation. [ Rude?! ] As long as I'm your favorite troublemaker, though, I'll find it in my heart to overlook that offense.

[ Referring to him as a rascal behind his back is incredibly telling? May as well play for keeps. ]

Anything else weighing on you? Tell me when you're ready to call it quits. We shouldn't stop before you're satisfied.

[ Not like everything between them has to pertain to battle or squares or mutuality. Push comes to shove and Childe could go at it for hours more, fishing until he's seized the clarity that he's so badly sought out. But it's enough seeing the lengths Zhongli's gone today. He couldn't ask for more. ]

[lapidation]

[ Did Childe catch that somehow while on the run from the Millelith. ]

Unfortunately, you have formidable competitor.

[ But he doesn't go into detail. It isn't too difficult to come to conclusions, however. Sometimes you (are forced to) hang with the same people. Patience rewards Zhongli with another sizable catch. ]

We have a good number of fish, but we can linger if you're feeling lucky. [ They can continue conversation wherever. ] I remember seeing a boy wandering around Liyue some time ago. He looked like you.

[ It's an opportunity to gush about family. ]

[sluice]

[ Something like that. ]

Oh, so there is someone special. You'd have me settle for second place? Pretty heartless of you!

[ Packing up it is. Unsubtle with stashing away with the fishing equipment and the icebox, crammed cold with fish, he approaches Zhongli's dog with friendship at the forefront, ruffling behind the ears only long enough to scoot the mat out from underneath those paws and roll it up to join the rest of his belongings. ]

Let's go, Jiaotang. We'll disown Mr. Zhongli together. He didn't even learn my kid brother's name. I was going to praise him for that nice catch, too...

[ As if. This bow-wow won't betray his master; he remembers who holds the leash. Poking fun is the only way to get around his own curiosity, though. Fresh out of orthodoxy and decorum, Childe's unsubtle with his staring. Such a duality in you, old man, running him out of Liyue but taking notice of that little boy who kept asking around about toy factories and an older brother who could only lead him astray. ]

What'd you think of Teucer? Was he a rascal in your eyes?

[lapidation]

... I was referring to Director Hu.

[ Which he doesn't think of more than possibly his version of a granddaughter. Child? He suffers under her gremlin ways and it reminds him he's old. Still, he's fond of her, and this may be the only times he admits to it. Normally, he'd express grievance being her employee.

Jiaotang allows Childe to do what he needs, then happily barks in response. No, he doesn't understand what's being said. ]

The boy was quick to move on. [ He didn't get a chance??? To learn anything??? ] There's a resemblance in more ways than appearance.

[ So. Yes. Rascal (small). ]